My Doctrine

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT: INDEPENDENT FUNDAMENTAL BAPTIST

These 18 statements of doctrinal position are held and affirmed as fundamental positions of my faith. These are not all inclusive, but encompass the basic "words of faith and good doctrine" to "put the brethren in rememberance of" in my charge and commission as a Baptist Preacher of the Gospel.

Doctrinal Statement of Edward G. Rice

1. I believe the Scriptures are verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings, and that there is a preservation of this inerrancy guarded by God and passed on in the TR text (i.e. the Textus Receptus and the Massoretic Hebrew Text.) (Psalms 12:6-7, Matthew 5:18-19). I believe that the Scriptures are the supreme and final authority in faith, life, and practice (2Timothy 3:16,17; 2Peter 1:21). I believe that the Alexandrine Texts used to compile the Nestles Critical Greek 'bible' have unjustified deletions of Scripture verses and is not a proper basis for a Bible Translation (i.e. ASV, NASB, NAB, RSV). I further believe that the 'free translations' and the 'paraphrase translations' of the Bible (i.e. NIV, GNB, MLB, NEB, JB, PME, LB) contain translators interpretations and are not suitable for readings or teachings in a local Church. In that they call themselves 'The Holy Bible' they deceive Christians and their many contradictions and deletions bring the doctrine of inerrancy directly under attack. I, therefore, believe that the King James Bible is currently the only English Bible to be used in any Church teaching and preaching application, and represents the only complete and accurate Holy Bible for English speaking people to date.

2. I believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30, Acts 5:3-4).

3. I believe in direct and instant creation, that it was not a process, but was completed in six literal, 24-hour days (Genesis 1:1). I reject any theory that accommodates evolution and unbelieving science (so called) at the expense of the Word of God. (Genesis 1-2; John 1:3; Hebrews 11:3)

4. I believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, was born of the virgin Mary, and is true God and true man (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:18-25; Galatians 4:4; Colossians 2:9).

5. I believe that man was created in the image of God, that he sinned and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death which is separation from God; and that all human beings are born with a sinful nature and are sinners by birth and by choice, positively inclined to evil and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin without defense of excuse (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:17; Psalms 58:3; Romans 1:20; 5:12-21; 1Corinthians 2:14).

6. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures as an efficacious and substitutionary sacrifice, and that all who believe in Him are justified on the basis of His shed blood (Romans 5:9; 1Corinthians 15:1-4; 2Corinthians 5:21; 1Peter 1:18-19;2:24).

7. I reject all theologies that are not consistent with the Word of God. As a Biblicist I seek to base all beliefs and practices exclusively on the Word of God apart from the works of any man or Church. Thus I reject both Calvinism (Luke 13:3-6; John 3:16; Acts 7:51; 1Timothy 2:3, 4:10; 1John 2:2) and Arminianism (Psalm 51:12; John 5:24; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Romans 5:12-18; Jude 24-25). I believe God provided eternal salvation for all men through Christ's shed blood on the cross (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Hebrews 9:26; 1Peter 1:18-19) and that salvation is personally appropriated by individual choice through the exercise of faith (John 1:12, 3:16; 1Timothy 4:10; 1Peter 2:7). Thus I reject an "election" to heaven of those whose life is not changed by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit and I reject an "election" to hell of those without hope or possibility of receiving eternal life.

8. I believe in the bodily resurrection of the Lord. His bodily ascension into heaven and His bodily presence there as our High Priest and Advocate (Acts 1:9-11; 1Corinthians 15:1-4; 15:20-25; Hebrews 7:25).

9. I believe in the "blessed hope" of the personal, bodily pre-tribulation, pre-millennial, and imminent return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and rapture of Church Age saints (Matthew 24:44; John 14:1-3; 1Corinthians 15:51-57; 1Thessalonians 4:13-18; 2Thessalonians 2).

10. I believe that all who receive the Lord Jesus Christ by faith are born again of the Holy Spirit, are the children of God, and are eternally saved (John 3:8; Galatians 3:24-26; 1John 5:13).

11. I believe that Satan is literal and personal, that he was the agent of the fall, that he is the prince of this world, and that he has been judged and shall be eternally punished (Isaiah 14:4-21; John 16:11; Ephesians 2:1-4; Revelation 20:1-10).

12. I believe in the bodily resurrection of the dead; both of the just and unjust. I believe in a literal heaven and a literal hell; that the spirits of the unsaved at death descend immediately into hell where they are kept under punishment until the final day of judgment (Luke 16:19-31; 2Peter 2:9), at which time their bodies shall be raised from the grave; there shall be everlasting punishment (Mark 9:43-48; 1Thessalonians 4:16-18; Jude 13; Revelation 20:11-15; 21:8).

13. I believe that immersion is the only form of baptism revealed and commanded in the Scriptures, that it has no saving power, but is only for those who are already believers; and that the new birth, which comes through repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus is the scriptural prerequisite for baptism; therefore, only those who believe should be baptized (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-5).

14 . I believe that the Lord's Supper is a memorial of the death of Christ and that only those who have been saved through faith in His atoning blood and are walking in obedient fellowship with Him ought to partake of it. I do not believe in closed communion (1Corinthians 1:23-32).

15. I believe that the Bible teaches that the offices of pastor and deacon in the local Church are to be held by men only, and that ordination to Christian service is reserved for men only. (Acts 6:, Philippians 1:1; 1Timothy 2:11-15; 3:1-13). I believe the office of pastor (speaking of the role in the local Church as shepherd) is synonymously used in scripture with elder (speaking of the man, older, & mature in faith) and with bishop (speaking of the office, overseer).

16. I believe that a New Testament Church is a body of immersed believers, assembled for worship, service, and the spread of the Gospel in all the world (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8; 2:41-47; 2Corinthians 5:11-19).

17. I believe that all believers are called to a life of separation in at least three areas:
a. Moral: God's Word commands the believer to perfect holiness in the fear of God (2Corinthians 7:1); to maintain moral purity (1Thessalonians 4:1-70); to keep separate from worldly practices and appearances (2Corinthians 6:14-18; 1Thesalonians 5:21-22; 1John 2:15-17; to pursue holiness (1Peter 1:16); and to be conformed to the image of Christ (Romans 8:29)
b. Personal: Romans 14 reveals the fact that there are areas where believers may disagree in matters to which the Bible does not explicitly speak. In such matters every man should be fully persuaded in his own mind (Romans 14:6).
c. Ecclesiastical: While recognizing the unity of all true believers in Christ, it is also evident that unbelief and error in many organized fellowships have developed to the point where indisputable apostasy exists. I, therefore, disavow the position of the World Council of Churches, the National Association of Evangelicals, and any other associations of fellowship that would be in sympathy with them. I stand in opposition to the Ecumenical Movement, Neo-Orthodoxy, New Evangelicalism, and Cooperative Evangelistic programs between Churches and people who are not of like precious faith and practice (Luke 12:51; 2Corinthians 6:14-18; Ephesians 5:11-12).

18. I believe that the healing and tongues movement of today is unscriptural and that those who believe and practice it are in error. This includes the so-called Neo-Pentecostal and Charismatic movements that have now spread among Roman Catholics and other mainline denominations. I believe that the modern tongues movement deviates from the biblical gift of tongues both in practice (Acts 1:1-13) and principle (1Corinthians 12:14). I believe that the modern tongues movement causes confusion and does not honor God (1Corinthians 14:33,40).

[Cover][Back]